Lost, then found: You can wear tennis shoes with slacks, can't you?

Austin, oh Austin. Your running trails around Town Lake are awesome, though I wish there were directions telling you which routes to take to run a certain distance. Your downtown is even more awesome, and the capitol building is pretty cool too - though I wish there were better directions to tell you which way you are going.

 

Spot a trend here? I've spent a lot of time getting in lost in Austin this week _ whether its walking through the halls of the Capitol looking for the office of some state senator, or even the exit, or driving around the Capitol looking for parking. And when I'm not lost, I'm stuck in traffic. It was rainy and foggy the first few days of this week and so traffic on Mopac (That's a north-and-south running freeway for those of you who've never been to Austin) has been like a parking lot in the mornings.

 

You know what I think it is, why I'm getting lost all the time? Man disease. Really. All I've gotta do when I get lost is stop and ask somebody where the heck I'm going.

 

But do I stop? No.

 

Inside the capitol, I think to myself, "well, I've tried this hallway and that hallway, so it must be this other hallway." I guess I'm trying to fit in. You should see me. I walk fast and with purpose, and each time I realize I've gone down the wrong flight of stairs or made the wrong turn, I whisper out loud, "Oh, it's over here." - you know, so just in case someone is watching they'll think I know where I'm going.

 

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To get on the floor of the House and Senate, men have to wear coat and tie. Before this week, I hadnt worn a tie in I don't know how long. (To funerals, I'd always wear black shirt and jacket. Hadnt been to a weddings since before 9/11. As I write this I realize how sad that sounds: I've been to more funerals this decade [ 4 ] than weddings [ 1] ).

 

To make sure I comply with the dress code, last weekend I ducked into a Kohl's and, voila, they had a sale. Two ties for $30. I usually wear tennis shoes and blue jeans to work back home, but on the first day covering the legislature in Austin, I decided to wear shoes. Argghh. My feet killed me all day long. And my knees hurt when I ran the next morning.

 

So, the last few days, Ive worn my black new balance tennis shoes with my suits. Ahhhhh! Kenneth Cole slacks and New Balance: I know I look crazy, but boy am I comfortable.

 

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So I've got 9 days before the marathon. I'm tapering like I'm supposed to and my legs are lovvvvvvving it. Just lovin' it. Feeling all fresh and springy, my legs can churn out sub 8 minute miles without needing too much work from my heart and lungs. I did 7 miles at Town Lake this morning in about 55 minutes (7:50 pace) and my average heart rate was 77 percent of max. I hope Cowtown is where I finally vanquish the ghosts of marathons past.

 

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So, in between the running and the getting lost, I have been working.

 

Tuesday, I wrote a story about the challenges Texas faces in biosciences. And Wednesday, I co-authored a story about Texas Governor Rick Perry saying he would take the stimulus money that the federal government has earmarked for Texas.